Camper

ABSTRACT

A load carrying vehicle such as a camper adapted to be detachably connected to a tractor vehicle of the pick-up truck body type, preferably of the four wheel drive type having a cargo compartment body box positioned behind the passenger compartment, and a draw-bar or rear plate carried by the chassis of the truck at the rear of and beneath the body box or cargo compartment. The camper or other load carrying vehicle has a centrally disposed bottom section adapted to be positioned within the body box or cargo compartment of the pick-up truck vehicle, and to be secured to the draw-bar or rear plate positioned at the rear of the truck. The camper has aligned laterally enlarged or wider sections, (1) to overlie the sidewalls of the members defining the bed or cargo compartments of the pick-up truck, and (2) to overlie the passenger compartment of the tractor vehicle, and (3) positioned at the rear of or behind the tractor vehicle. The camper or load carrying vehicle has a pair of independent wheels beneath the wider section positioned at the rear of or behind the tractor vehicle to support a portion of its load of the camper. These independent wheels are preferably at a wider tread width than the wheels of the tractor vehicle to stabilize the camper vehicle and to prevent excessive roll of the assembly consisting of the tractor vehicle and the camper as it rounds curves or transverses rough terrain.

United States Patent Prater CAMPER [72] Inventor: Charles Prater, Route2, Box 888,

Morehead, Ky. 40351 [22] Filed: Aug. 24, 1970 {21] Appl. No.: 66,316

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.739,779, June 25, 1965, abandoned.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-PhilipGoodman Attorney-Alfred E. Wilson 57 ABSTRACT A load carrying vehiclesuch as a camper adapted to 11/1970 Nelson ..296/23 MC De Gennaro 296/23MC [451 Aug. 15, 1972 be detachably connected to a tractor vehicle ofthe pick-up truck body type, preferably of the four wheel drive typehaving a cargo compartment body box positioned behind the passengercompartment, and a draw-bar or rear plate carried by the chassis of thetruck at the rear of and beneath the body box or cargo compartment. Thecamper or other load carrying vehicle has a centrally disposed bottomsection adapted to be positioned within the body box or cargocompartment of the pick-up truck vehicle, and to be secured to thedraw-bar or rear plate positioned at the rear of the truck. The camperhas aligned laterally enlarged or wider sections, (1) to overlie thesidewalls of the members defining the bed or cargo compartments of thepick-up truck, and (2) to overlie the passenger compartment of thetractor vehicle, and (3) positioned at the rear of or behind the tractorvehicle. The camper or load carrying vehicle has a pair of independentwheels beneath the wider section positioned at the rear of or behind thetractor vehicle to support a portion of its load of the camper. Theseindependent wheels are preferably at a wider tread width than the wheelsof the tractor vehicle to stabilize the camper vehicle and to preventexcessive roll of the assembly consisting of the tractor vehicle and thecamper as it rounds curves or transverses rough terrain.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CAMPER This is a continuation in part of myco-pending patent application entitled Camper, Ser. No. 739,779, filedJune 25, 1968 now abandoned and relates to load carrying vehicles, andhas particular application to a mobile camper adapted to overlie and tobe detachably connected to a tractor vehicle of the utility or truckbody type, preferably of the four whell drive type, the load carryingvehicle or camper having a pair of wheels spaced laterally outside ofthe wheels of the vehicle to provide a stable assembly.

It has been common practice to secure load carrying vehicles of thecamper type having all of the necessary living facilities, to the bodyof small trucks. In order to maintain a proper weight distribution onthe truck and to provide the necessary living quarters, the campers ofnecessity are short and are positioned relatively high. A top-heavy unithaving cramped space results.

My improved load carrying vehicle has a pair of load supporting wheelsadapted to be positioned behind, and preferably laterally outside of thewheels of the tractor vehicle to which it is secured. It is thuspossible to provide a longer and lower partially self supported vehicle.When appliedto campers a larger unit is possible having greater interiorspace, and a unit which is lower and longer and thus insures greaterstability when applied to the tractor vehicle. While my improved camperis especially designed for use with the small vehicles such as the Jeeptype four wheel drive vehicle it can be advantageously used with allvehicles of the pick-up truck body type. The wheels of the camper arepreferably positioned laterally outside of the tread width of thevehicle to which it is secured. A very stable assembly is thus provided.

An object of my invention is therefore to provide an improved loadcarrying vehicle of the camper type adapted to overlie a Jeep or Pick-uptype vehicle and having a pair of wheels positioned rearwardly of therear wheels of the tractor vehicle to support a portion of the weight ofthe camper thereby permitting an increase of the overall length andliving space within the camper.

A further object of my invention resides in the provision of a camperadapted to be secured at an intermediate portion thereof to the rear ofa Jeep or Pick-up type tractor vehicle, and wherein clamping means areprovided for securing the intermediate portion of the camper to the rearend of the tractor vehicle.

Another object of my invention is to provide a camper having a pair ofload carrying wheels to trail behind the rear wheels of the tractorvehicle to which the camper is secured, the wheels of the camper beingspaced further apart than the wheels of the tractor vehicle to. permitthe design of a camper having increased width withinthe camper'forliving space, and

to provide a more stable overall vehicle assembly having better drivingcharacteristics.

Other objects and advantages of my improved load carrying vehicle willbe pointed out in the following detailed description considered with theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings wherein similar parts have been identified by similarnumerals throughout the various views:

FIG. 1 is aperspective view illustrating my improved load carryingvehicle of the camper type disassembled with respect to a Jeep orPick-up" type tractor vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the camper typeload carrying vehicle and the tractor vehicle in assembled relation;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one side and the rear of the assembly ofFIG. 2 illustrating the tread width of the camper relative to the treadwidth of the tractor vehicle.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings a load carrying vehicle10 of the camper type is adapted to be secured to a motorized tractorvehicle 12 of the Jeep" or Pick-up body type having for example a smallcargo carrying compartment 13.

The load carrying vehicle or camper 10 has a pair of wheels 14 suitablymounted as illustrated at 16 on an axle secured to the frame of thevehicle. If desired the wheels 14 may be individually mounted toeliminate the axle 16. The wheels 14 are preferably set at a wider treadwidth laterally than are the front and rear wheels 18 and 20 of thevehicle 12 to increase the stability of the assembly.

The camper 10 has a longitudinally intermediate drawbar portion 22adapted to lie adjacent to and to be secured to a drawbar assemblycomprised for exampleof upper and lower rear plates 24 and 25 of thetractor vehicle 12 or to any portion thereof capable of transmittingmotive force from the vehicle to the camper, The draw bar assembly orplates 24 and 25 preferably have upper and lower threaded apertures 26and 28 for the reception of bolts 27 passing through a frame ,member 29of the camper 10 at the intermediate portion 22 thereof. The apertures26 and 28 instead of being threaded may, as illustrated. in FIG. 2 havenuts 30 welded to the draw bar assembly for the reception of the bolts27. A pair of apered guide pins 31 fixed to the frame member 29 of thecamper or vehicle 10 are adapted to be received within spaced apartapertures 32, preferably in upper plate 24 in vertical alignment withthe aperture 26. The apertures 32 are preferably provided withrearwardly flared guides 33 to cooperate in aligning the securing bolts27 with the apertures 26 and 28 when the tractor vehicle is movedrearwardly to effect a coupling engagement with the camper. If desiredthe ends of the tapered pins may also be screw threaded to receive nutsin the same manner as studs 27 to provide additional securing means forthe camper to the tractor vehicle.

If desired, motion transmitting means, such for example, long rods 34extending longitudinally of the underside of the camper 10 which may beintegral with or secured to the bolts 27 to permit tightening the bolts27 with respect to the threaded fasteners 30 from the rear of the camper10 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Suitable two rearwardly of the lowerportion of the stepped or cutout portion 38, which is dimensional andproportioned to be received within the body box 46 of the tractorvehicle as defined by the floor 48 and the parallel side walls 50-50thereof.

The generally T shaped front wall 52 of the camper thus formed liesimmediately adjacent the rear closure 54 of the passenger compartment 44of the tractor vehicle 12 when the camper is attached to the tractorvehicle in the manner above described. Suitable aligned openings 56 and58 in the rear closure 54 and the T shaped front wall 52 respectively,may be provided to permit access between the passenger compartment 44 ofthe tractor vehicle 12 and the space within the camper 10. The openings56 and 58 are both preferably provided with suitable, openable closuremeans such as hinged flaps or windows.

The portion 40 overlying the top of the passenger compartment 44 has ahorizontal wall or floor 60 to overlie the top 62 of the tractor vehiclepassenger compartment 44. Suitable front and side windows 64, 66 and 68are provided for the comfort and convenience of the occupants of thecamper 10. The rear wall 69 of the cam per is provided with a door 70for access to the interior of the camper 10 and a floor 72 extends fromthe rear wall forwardly to the T shaped front wall 52 and includes areduced width portion 74 which overlies the floor 48 of the body box 46of the tractor vehicle 12 when the camper is attached to the tractorvehicle in the manner previously described.

My improved camper may be fitted out interiorly with all of the usualliving accomodations such as stove, refrigerator, beds, sink, chairs andother necessary accomodations, articles of furniture etc as desired. Inview of the fact that my camper has a substantial portion of its weightsupported on its own wheels, the camper may be much longer than thosecampers which are secured on top of a small truck of the Pick-up type.Also in view of the fact that the wheels 14 are set further apart thanthe normal tread width of the vehicle 12 to which the camper is secured,the floor 72 adjacent the rear of the camper 10 can be positioned lowerwith respect to the vehicle 12 than is possible with units mounted ontop of the vehicle 12. A camper having far greater head-room and moreliving space within the camper results.

Since the wheels 14 of the camper 10 are positioned laterally outside ofthe wheels 18 and of the vehicle 12 a more suitably stable and a safervehicle assembly results, and one which provides greater living spacewithin the camper for the occupants thereof.

My novel assembly of load carrying and tractor vehicles has improveddriving characteristics. For example when going up a steep hill, alarger portion of the weight of a conventional camper vehicle is shiftedto the rear wheels. The loading on the front or steerable wheels isproportionately reduced whereupon the steerability of the vehicle isreduced or become sluggish.

With my improved vehicle consisting of the load carrying and the tractorelements, the auxiliary rear wheels carried by the load carrying vehiclefunction as a fulcrum and induce a greater proportion of the weight ofthe combined load carrying and tractor elements of the vehicle to remainon the front or steerable wheels, whereupon the steerability of thevehicle is improved.

While my improved camper is not limited to use with four-wheel drivevehicles, there is an advantage in its use with four wheel drivevehicles. For example when travelling in rough terrain, as when crossinga ditch or swail it is possible with a two-wheel drive vehicle for thedriving wheels to be elevated above the ditch to such a point thatdriving traction is lost. The only way to extricate the vehicle fromthat situation is to get it moved forward or backward to such an extentthat the driving wheels regain driving traction. With the four wheeldrive vehicle this situation would not occur since at least one pair ofdriving wheels will at all times maintain driving contact with theground.

While my invention has been described with particular reference to thecamper type or load carrying vehicle, it will be apparent that it isapplicable to all types of load carrying vehicles such for example ashorse and other animal carrying vehicles and specialized cargo carriers.

1 claim;

1. In combination, a tractor vehicle of the pickup truck body type and aload carrying camper, said tractor vehicle comprising;

A. a chassis and body having,

1. front and rear pairs of wheels of predetermined tread width, and

2. a forwardly disposed engine compartment,

3. an engine in said compartment,

4. means to exert driving torque from the engine to one of said pairs ofwheels,

5. a passenger compartment positioned behind the engine,

. a cargo compartment body box behind the passenger compartment definedby b. laterally spaced vertically disposed longitudinally extending sidewalls, and

c. a vertically disposed transversely extending wall behind and adjacentto the passenger compartment, said load carrying camper comp A. a frontbottom section, having laterally spaced vertically disposed side walls,and a floor and a front wall, proportioned to be received within thecargo compartment body box over the floor of said body box and betweenthe vertically disposed longitudinally extending side walls thereof,

B. an upper laterally enlarged section above said front bottom sectionadapted to overlie and extend laterally beyond the sidewalls of saidbody box,

C. a forward extending section of substantially the same width as saidupper laterally enlarged section adapted to overlie the passengercompartment,

D. a rearwardly extending section of substantially the same width assaid upper laterally enlarged section extending rearwardly of both thefront bottom section and the upper laterally enlarged section,

E. a pair of independentwheels mounted on the load carrying camperbeneath said rearwardly extending section, said independent wheels beingmounted thereon at a greater tread width than the tread width of thewheels of the tractor vehicle, and

F. means to detachably connect the load carrying camper to the tractorvehicle comprising fastening means longitudinally spaced relative toeach other and cooperating to clamp the camper to the tractor vehiclewhereby angular movement of the camper about a horizontal axis relativeto the tractor vehicle is prevented.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein thtractor vehicle is of thefour-wheel-drive type having selectively operable means tointermittently exert driving torque to the other of said pairs of wheelsto permit exerting continuous driving torque to the ground if one ofsaid pairs of wheels should lose driving contact with the ground.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the tractor vehicle hasdrawbar means at the rear end thereof, and the camper has drawbar meansat a longitudinally intermediate portion thereof, and threaded fasteningmeans to secure said drawbar means together.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said vehicle drawbar meansis at the rear of the chassis of the vehicle and at the bottom of thecamper substantially at the juncture of said from bottom and rearwardlyextending sections, and the said threaded fastening means secure saiddrawbar means together.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein the fastening means arescrew threaded fasteners.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein motion transmitting meansoperable from the rear end of the load carrying camper are provided toactuate said clamping means for detachably securing the camper to thedrawbar means of the tractor vehicle.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein the clamping means arebolts carried by the load carrying camper and threaded fasteners fixedto the drawbar means.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein the bolts and threadedfasteners are arranged in two vertically spaced planes.

1. In combination, a tractor vehicle of the pick-up truck body type anda load carrying camper, said tractor vehicle comprising; A. a chassisand body having,
 1. front and rear pairs of wheels of predeterminedtread width, and
 2. a forwardly disposed engine compartment,
 3. anengine in said compartment,
 4. means to exert driving torque from theengine to one of said pairs of wheels,
 5. a passenger compartmentpositioned behind the engine,
 6. a cargo compartment body box behind thepassenger compartment defined by a. a floor, b. laterally spacedvertically disposed longitudinally extending side walls, and c. avertically disposed transversely extending wall behind and adjacent tothe passenger compartment, said load carrying camper comprising; A. afront bottom section, having laterally spaced vertically disposed sidewalls, and a floor and a front wall, proportioned to be received withinthe cargo compartment body box over the floor of said body box andbetween the vertically disposed longitudinally extending side wallsthereof, B. an upper laterally enlarged section above said front bottomsection adapted to overlie and extend laterally beyond the sidewalls ofsaid body box, C. a forward extending section of substantially the samewidth as said upper laterally enlarged section adapted to overlie thepassenger compartment, D. a rearwardly extending section ofsubstantially the same width as said upper laterally enlarged sectionextending rearwardly of both the front bottom section and the upperlaterally enlarged section, E. a pair of independent wheels mounted onthe load carrying camper beneath said rearwardly extending section, saidindependent wheels being mounted thereon at a greater tread width thanthe tread width of the wheels of the tractor vehicle, and F. means todetachably connect the load carrying camper to the tractor vehiclecomprising fastening means longitudinally spaced relative to each otherand cooperating to clamp the camper to the tractor vehicle wherebyangular movement of the camper about a horizontal axis relative to thetractor vehicle is prevented.
 2. a forwardly disposed enginecompartment,
 2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the tractorvehicle is of the four-wheel-drive type having selectively operablemeans to intermittently exert driving torque to the other of said pairsof wheels to permit exerting continuous driving torque to the ground ifone of said pairs of wheels should lose driving contact with the ground.3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the tractor vehicle hasdrawbar means at the rear end thereof, and the camper has drawbar meansat a longitudinally intermediate portion thereof, and threaded fasteningmeans to secure said drawbar means together.
 3. an engine in saidcompartment,
 4. means to exert driving torque from the engine to one ofsaid pairs of wheels,
 4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein saidvehicle drawbar means is at the rear of the chassis of the vehicle andat the bottom of the camper substantially at the juncture of said frontbottom and rearwardly extending sections, and the said threadedfastening means secure said drawbar means together.
 5. The inventiondefined in claim 4 wherein The fastening means are screw threadedfasteners.
 5. a passenger compartment positioned behind the engine, 6.The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein motion transmitting meansoperable from the rear end of the load carrying camper are provided toactuate said clamping means for detachably securing the camper to thedrawbar means of the tractor vehicle.
 6. a cargo compartment body boxbehind the passenger compartment defined by a. a floor, b. laterallyspaced vertically disposed longitudinally extending side walls, and c. avertically disposed transversely extending wall behind and adjacent tothe passenger compartment, said load carrying camper comprising; A. afront bottom section, having laterally spaced vertically disposed sidewalls, and a floor and a front wall, proportioned to be received withinthe cargo compartment body box over the floor of said body box andbetween the vertically disposed longitudinally extending side wallsthereof, B. an upper laterally enlarged section above said front bottomsection adapted to overlie and extend laterally beyond the sidewalls ofsaid body box, C. a forward extending section of substantially the samewidth as said upper laterally enlarged section adapted to overlie thepassenger compartment, D. a rearwardly extending section ofsubstantially the same width as said upper laterally enlarged sectionextending rearwardly of both the front bottom section and the upperlaterally enlarged section, E. a pair of independent wheels mounted onthe load carrying camper beneath said rearwardly extending section, saidindependent wheels being mounted thereon at a greater tread width thanthe tread width of the wheels of the tractor vehicle, and F. means todetachably connect the load carrying camper to the tractor vehiclecomprising fastening means longitudinally spaced relative to each otherand cooperating to clamp the camper to the tractor vehicle wherebyangular movement of the camper about a horizontal axis relative to thetractor vehicle is prevented.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 6wherein the clamping means are bolts carried by the load carrying camperand threaded fasteners fixed to the drawbar means.
 8. The invention asdefined in claim 7 wherein the bolts and threaded fasteners are arrangedin two vertically spaced planes.